Originally Posted by datlas (Post 21877260)

Uh, thanks.

Has anyone ever ridden a Shimano drivetrain with the chain backwards? I am guessing the symptoms I described are typical for that mistake.

Originally Posted by datlas (Post 21877248)

More drama. Or possibly comedy.

I had an insight into why my drivetrain is finicky as I woke up early this morning. I could not eyeball the cause until I left for work. But I am pretty sure I know what's wrong.

It's almost too embarrassing to admit, but if you can't admit your bone-headed idiot mechanic moves in here, where CAN you?

Yes, my mechanic is such a moron, he did the all time most AMATEUR move when putting on a new chain.

Chain is on backwards.

I will have to fix it and take it for a test ride to confirm that's the problem, but I am pretty sure that explains the problem.

Originally Posted by Velo Vol (Post 21877224)

Is today the day?

Originally Posted by datlas (Post 21877260)

Uh, thanks.

Has anyone ever ridden a Shimano drivetrain with the chain backwards? I am guessing the symptoms I described are typical for that mistake.

Originally Posted by Trsnrtr (Post 21877261)

I'm sure that it's pretty low since he's recovering from CV19 and doesn't even have the breath or strength to lift. He may have returned to the gym now, but a week ago, he still couldn't. I don't know when his next meet is but I bet that he's way behind on his training program now

Originally Posted by WhyFi (Post 21877263)

My family is so slow to get moving in the morning that getting out on a decent ride is pretty easy on my days off. I can usually knock out 40-50 miles before anyone is out of their pajamas. That they waste so much time in the morning is actually a source of frustration for me, so riding is a double-win. That said, I feel guilty about back-to-back metrics on Sat/Sun, so I usually do a long ride on one of those days (keeping the other to 40-50) in addition to a longer ride on Wed.

Actually, now that I think about it, covid increased my mileage in another way - group rides on Wed are typically in the 40-50 range whereas striking out on my own for 62-100 was not unusual last year.

Originally Posted by datlas (Post 21877260)

Has anyone ever ridden a Shimano drivetrain with the chain backwards?

Originally Posted by datlas (Post 21877236)

Radio Tower is painful. I did it once. No plans to repeat.

Originally Posted by ls01 (Post 21877273)

I never knew they were direcional...

Originally Posted by WhyFi (Post 21877264)

I assume that you mean that the writing is on the NDS side of the chain? I haven't done that one...

Originally Posted by datlas (Post 21877295)

Yeah. Totally amateur move, I know. Sad.

Originally Posted by datlas (Post 21877260)

Uh, thanks.

Has anyone ever ridden a Shimano drivetrain with the chain backwards? I am guessing the symptoms I described are typical for that mistake.

Originally Posted by Velo Vol (Post 21877224)

Is today the day?

Originally Posted by kissTheApex (Post 21877337)

I still don’t know what tool to use to break he connecting pin :confused:

Originally Posted by genejockey (Post 21877074)

I did Innsbruck tonight, with the Trainer Difficulty set to 100%, so the climb felt... well, pretty much like a 7.4 km climb with a 6% average grade would feel. I'm glad I used the Bianchi, with it's 34x27 low gear. I ended up standing on the pedals pretty much any time the grade went to 10% or higher.

Next stage is supposed to be Big Climbs, including Alpe du Zwift. I haven't decided whether I want to do that, but set trainer difficulty at maybe 50-75%. Or I might do the 'C' ride, which does the Watopia Mountain Route, which has the "Epic KOM", which is less arduous than the climb I just did, but also adds the Radio Tower climb, which is apparently .7 miles of 13.7 % Yikes. Hmmmmmm.....

Originally Posted by abshipp (Post 21877317)

I suppose a silver lining to 100% mask mandates is that my annual cold sore isn't out and about for everyone to see :rolleyes:

I think this one's going to be a doozy, though :(

Originally Posted by kissTheApex (Post 21877337)

Let me tell you after this weekend. First time replacing the chain, so I was thinking I should get out the most simplistic error out of the way :innocent:

I still don’t know what tool to use to break he connecting pin :confused:

I may prove the term “he who has himself as a bike mechanic has a fool for a client.”

Originally Posted by Mojo31 (Post 21877367)

Here you go:
Park Tool Compact Chain Tool | REI Co-op

Or you can go more expensive:
Amazon.com : Park Tool CT-3.2 Chain Tool : Bike Hand Tools : Sports & Outdoors

Originally Posted by Mojo31 (Post 21877367)

Here you go:
Park Tool Compact Chain Tool | REI Co-op

Or you can go more expensive:
Amazon.com : Park Tool CT-3.2 Chain Tool : Bike Hand Tools : Sports & Outdoors

Originally Posted by kissTheApex (Post 21877395)

I have a chain tool.

I was talking about this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

The interwebs say I should use regular pliers and it will snap like a twig, but I’m ascared. :twitchy:

good thing I have three of the connecting pins to try and destroy and resort to the Shimano quick-link, which I wanted to save for roadside emergencies.

Originally Posted by Mojo31 (Post 21877404)

Push it in with a chain tool, and then snap off the excess with a pair of needle nose pliers.

Color me stupid, but is there a reason to not use a quick link?

Originally Posted by kissTheApex (Post 21877395)

I have a chain tool.

I was talking about this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

The interwebs say I should use regular pliers and it will snap like a twig, but I’m ascared. :twitchy:

good thing I have three of the connecting pins to try and destroy and resort to the Shimano quick-link, which I wanted to save for roadside emergencies.

Originally Posted by kissTheApex (Post 21877416)

No reason at all. I have both the pins and the quick-link. I just wanted to keep the quick-link in the saddle bag in the 1 in a billion chance that my guads ever developed beyond sticks and snapped a chain out on a ride.